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Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas Blueprints

Hello everyone! We are not having a challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge this week, instead we are going to post some inspiration. Today six members of the team will share inspiration using Tim Holtz stamps.

If you are like me, you might discover that you made too few Christmas cards once again and need some quick cards. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps are perfect for this.

In the past, I used to make different Christmas cards for each recipient. Nowadays, there isn't time for that since I do lots of other types of projects too. In those days, I would only make Christmas cards the last months of the year. Last year, I made quick inky cards, you can see them here. This year there is more variety since I've made quite a few cards at a time, for various tutorials and posts. But I was still lacking.

The blueprint stamps are fun to colour and since they are pretty large, you don't need much more on the card. Here I used a fabulous bauble.

I added some extra sentiments with rub-ons, but you could skip this step, the blueprint stamps don't really need sentiments.

I started out by die cutting eight backgrounds from watercolour paper, using Tim Holtz Cameo Frame and Postage Stamp Frame dies. The blueprint images were stamped with Archival Jet Black ink. It is important to use a waterproof ink since we are going to use water. The images were watercoloured with Distress Ink. Smear Distress Ink on your craft sheet, mist once with water and pick up with a paint brush.

If you work relatively quickly you can drop in a darker colour while the first colour is still wet, which creates nice wet-on-wet effects as you can see here on the ice skate. Don't add in more colour when the previous layer is almost dry, since then you'll get cauliflower effects.

I wanted some more shine and painted around all the images with Biscotti Perfect Pearls. You don't really see the effect on the photos, but it adds a great shimmer.

I painted a shadow under some of the images with Iced Spruce.

When the Biscotti mist was dry, I splattered the panels with Walnut Stain ink. Press the ink on your craft sheet, mist with water and pick up with a paint brush. Tap the brush with your finger. Remember to protect your clothes and work surface since the splatters fly far.

The edges of the panels were inked with Gathered Twigs. ﻿

I picked out some kraft-core cardstock, which works great for quick cards, since it adds extra detail and texture. The card fronts were embossed in different embossing folders, sanded and inked slightly.

The panels were stapled to the background and finally I also added a piece of Silver Tinsel Twine for that extra festive feeling.

These neutral colors work nicely on the cool blueprint stamps. I am so inspired by your blog. I've ordered several supplies you used in the Worn Book Christmas journal. Thank you for all the eye candy.

Anna-Karin...I LOVE your array of Christmas cards using Tim's blueprint stamps. You prove that sometimes less is more. I love the kraft backgrounds and the little hints of color that you've used on some of the designs. That is so effective! I also love the little bits of the silver tinsel twine that you've added. That looks perfect! You amaze me with your endless gorgeous projects! I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas! <3 Candy

Holy cow! I was amazed at how lovely these cards were even though you made them in such a relatively short amount of time! Genius! And I was seriously impressed at how you water-colored them with distress ink. I am always inspired by what you do and how you do it. Love these and am sure your recipients did, too!

About Me

Welcome to my blog! I have been doing arts and crafts my whole life, but papercrafting is the one that has totally captured my heart and mind. I started making cards in 2002 and to scrapbook two years later. I enjoy switching between the differently sized space of a card and a layout. My stamps and dies are my absolute favorite tools and I love creating something out of only white paper, stamps and ink, and to try out different techniques.

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The designs, images, and instructions on this blog are for personal use only and may not be distributed or sold in any form without specific permission from Anna-Karin Evaldsson.

Notice

Some of the products I use have been given to me by companies I design for, or sold to meat a discounted rate. This does not affect my content since I only use and blog about products that I like. This site also uses affiliate links, which means that I will receive a small commission when products are purchased from links posted here, at no extra cost to you. It helps me bring you more content and tutorials.